So, I got to drive a newish Dodge minivan today for work... Two questions:

[TheMightyFavog]

First: When did dashboard mounted ignitions become fashionable again? I thought those died out with the 60s. Every time I went to start that thing, I tried stabbing the key into the steering column, with no luck.

Secondly: What the hell is with that dashboard mounted shifter? Is this some weird concept Dodge brought over from the Engineers at Fiat, or is this one of those "save fifty cents per unit on the assembly line" things like those stupid side mounted terminals on 90s GM cars, or did the Dodge engineers have a bit too much vino when they thought of this?

Otherwise, it was not that bad. Actually, it felt like a full sized van rather than a minivan.

[citood]

1. I think the Honda Pilot has the dash shifter

So it's not just Dodge. Must mean that the connection to the transmission is only 'by wire'. Maybe you get used to it.

[TheMightyFavog]

2. Isn't a faulty 'by wire" transmission linkage what killed the guy who played Chekov?

Give me a good old fashioned mechanical linkage any day.

[flyingfysh]

3. The Prius used to have a dash shifter

In newer models it got moved down. My 2006 Prius had a dashboard shifter.

A Prius doesn't have a conventional transmission, so the location does not matter.

[HassleCat]

4. Dash mounted shifters come and go.

I like them because they make more room for my huge soft drink in the console. I'm waiting to see if anyone brings back push button shifting.

[True Dough]

8. You don't do this?

[Iggo]

5. Six cup holders just between the two front seats, though.

And I think there's at least another one, maybe two, in each front door.

Sliding doors on both sides mean you can get your baby out of the car without having to hunt for a wide parking space.

Only bad seat in the house is third row right. The third row is basically a three-butts-wide bench seat broken up into two on the left and one on the right. The one on the right kind of slants toward the center of the vehicle and if you're over a certain age it'll give you hip pain for days.

I haven't driven it yet (I don't drive except in emergencies) but my SIL likes the ignition placement and has gotten used to the shifter placement.

Highly recommended for use as a baby mobile.

[TheMightyFavog]

6. I noticed that, too.

Although I couldn't comment on the rear seating. They were all in the stowed position. Good thing, because I needed the cargo room.

[taught_me_patience]

7. Dodge/Chrysler mini vans are great

I have a town and country. Stow-n-go seating is awesome. In minutes you can lower all the seats and the van essentially becomes a cargo van. Sliding doors are awesome for kids. 95%is the public with kids would be better off with a mini van than an SUV.

[Dulcinea]

14. I have one too.

2012 Town & Country, love that stow & go feature! It's our family road trip vehicle. I like it because it handles more like a car than some other vans, which are pretty clunky.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. I have a dashboard ignition, but then I drive a Pontiac

Mine is a 2001 Grand Am. I've obviously been driving it so long that on the rare instance that I drive another car, I can't find where to put the key, LOL. It makes sense to me...

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Rented a Chrysler 300

Went to Cleveland on business and made more sense to drive than fly
That car didn't even have a key for the ignition
Just a button on the dash
If the remote is somewhere in the car, it starts. Otherwise the button does nothing

[TheMightyFavog]

12. I was given a Nissan like that as a loaner once.

It was weird, but at least I would never lock my keys in the car.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. I Found It Weird Too

But it does seem like a cool use of tech

[lastlib]

11. I was about 12 before I realized that the brand-name wasn't "DamnDodge".....

my father had one when I was young--it was a real junker, and he hated it with a PASSION! So to this day, whenever the brand is mentioned around him, it's "DAMN-Dodge", or "Damn Chrysler".

Actually, I had a 2001 Chevy that had a dashboard ignition, but my 2009 model went back to the steering column. No clue why.

[TheMightyFavog]

13. Was it a K Car, per chance?

[lastlib]

15. No, this was a truck, back in the 1950s.

I don't even remember the truck, to be honest. But Dad STILL hates it! It must've been a real lemon!